Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today, I brought up in my Member's statement regarding MACA and clawing back funding for the Paulatuk sewage lagoon. I am just wondering if the Minister of MACA would be able to give an extension. The extension was given to January, and you know that in our riding it is freeze-up, frozen solid, can't do anything. Would the Minister be willing to extend the project for the community of Paulatuk until August? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Minister of MACA.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. These, I want to say the project for the water and sewer, as a department, we encourage the community governments to access federal funding. I did do a statement on the water quality in the Northwest Territories, and that was a federal engagement that we initiated in the territory. I would have to look at this file further to see what kind of funding was available to Paulatuk. Looking at the extension, I would have to verify whether that was federal funding. Should it be federal funding, I am not too sure how much authorization we would have as a territorial government to encourage an extension. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
If the requirements, federal funding requirements, are the barrier here, did MACA give any consideration in finding an innovative way to get around it, working with the community to make sure that all the expenditures are done, notification given to the community, other than just saying, "Your funding is pulled"? Is there a way that we could talk to our federal counterparts, the Minister, to extend this? Because it's $53,000, and that is a lot of money for the community of Paulatuk, clawing back on water and the sewer program.
I will have my department reach out to the Hamlet of Paulatuk. I just need to slow down. I remember hearing that from the interpreters. I am just so anxious to answer the question. I will just have to get further information on what they may have for their CPI and their gas tax money and how much of this could be applied to the water and sewer issue in Paulatuk. I will have my department follow up with the hamlet.
It's more important to get the work done than to meet arbitrary funding deadlines. How does MACA expect the Hamlet of Paulatuk to pay back the funding and still update the sewage lagoon? Is there a way that we could do a letter of intent to say that we could do the work? Then, we could work with the gas tax or whatever funding that is available to them. Is that possible?
The funding provided to the communities, they submit their capital budget, and I am looking for flexibility within that budget to see how we can work with the Hamlet of Paulatuk. I did mention the gas tax money and the CPI, as well. The department will be reaching out to the hamlet to further offer more assistance on how we can look at either an extension or having conversations with the federal government.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Is it okay if I blame COVID-19 for the extension, please and thank you? I just want to make sure that the Minister commits to the community of Paulatuk and to the people of Nunakput that she would come to our community and do a community tour here soon, but I need a commitment from her to say that she will work for the people of Paulatuk on this issue. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
My department will be reaching out to the hamlet. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
